Published: Monday, April 1, 2013 at 06:39 PM.

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GASTONIA — It finally felt like baseball weather on Monday, and nobody was happier about that than Aaron Rumburg.

In temperatures that surpassed 70 degrees at Sims Legion Park, the Forestview senior pitched a two-hitter as Forestview beat East Gaston 11-1 in six innings to open the Gaston County Baseball Tournament.

“With the weather out there today, it was the best I’ve felt in five years,” Rumburg said. “It was awesome. Having to throw with 35-degree weather every night, that’s been kind of rough.”

Rumburg, who plans to sign with Belmont Abbey on Wednesday, struck out nine, walked one and surrendered one unearned run in improving to 5-1 for the season.

Forestview (9-4) advanced to Wednesday’s 7 p.m. semifinal against North Gaston or Cherryville at Sims Legion Park. The Jaguars won their opening-round game for the eighth time in nine years.

Rumburg played a central role in the latest win for a team eager to advance to the championship game for a second straight season.

“His last couple outings have been pretty solid,” Forestview coach Brian Horne said. “He’s been working ahead a lot more. His off-speed (pitch) has improved to go along with his velocity and it’s making him tough to hit.”

GASTONIA — It finally felt like baseball weather on Monday, and nobody was happier about that than Aaron Rumburg.

In temperatures that surpassed 70 degrees at Sims Legion Park, the Forestview senior pitched a two-hitter as Forestview beat East Gaston 11-1 in six innings to open the Gaston County Baseball Tournament.

“With the weather out there today, it was the best I’ve felt in five years,” Rumburg said. “It was awesome. Having to throw with 35-degree weather every night, that’s been kind of rough.”

Rumburg, who plans to sign with Belmont Abbey on Wednesday, struck out nine, walked one and surrendered one unearned run in improving to 5-1 for the season.

Forestview (9-4) advanced to Wednesday’s 7 p.m. semifinal against North Gaston or Cherryville at Sims Legion Park. The Jaguars won their opening-round game for the eighth time in nine years.

Rumburg played a central role in the latest win for a team eager to advance to the championship game for a second straight season.

“His last couple outings have been pretty solid,” Forestview coach Brian Horne said. “He’s been working ahead a lot more. His off-speed (pitch) has improved to go along with his velocity and it’s making him tough to hit.”

Rumburg had plenty of support as Forestview cranked out 10 hits and took advantage of three East Gaston errors. Aaron Nanney and Boone Owenby each delivered two hits and drove in a run. Six other players each added a hit.

Forestview led 2-1 before breaking open the game with a seven-run third. Cole Poole highlighted that inning with a three-run triple and scored on the same play on an errant throw to third. Owenby and Rumburg each drove in a run in the decisive inning that put the Jaguars ahead 9-1.

“I thought they came ready to play, swinging the bats top to bottom,” Horne said. “A lot of the guys off the bench were swinging. They played real loose and that’s all we wanted to see from them this week.”

Jake Dobbins and Justin Williams accounted for East Gaston’s two hits while Matt Grimmett took the loss in three innings. The Warriors (6-6) were looking to win an opening-round game for a fourth consecutive year.

“We didn’t play very sound baseball today in any regard,” East Gaston coach Randy Sellers said. “I figured coming over here in the tournament that we would have a better performance.”

East Gaston dropped into the consolation bracket and will play North Gaston or Cherryville Tuesday at 7.